Carl F. H. Henry: Secret of abundant living

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

The whole secret of abundant living can be summed up in this one sentence: “Not your responsibility but your response to God’s ability.”

Carl F. H. Henry (1913-2003) evangelical theologian in The Westminster Collection of Christian Quotations, ed. Martin H. Manser (Louisville: WJKP, 2001) 318

In continuing the exploration of generosity from God’s perspective after Easter: we must give our best, do it with love, and today we learn that we must rely on His strength and ability.

Henry was a thoughtful voice in the EFCA movement in the last century. Jenni and I had a great dinner last night with EFCA president, Kevin Kompelien and his wife, and Jay and Julie Ottoson.

Good fellowship with two couples who, along with us, are learning to grasp the secret to abundant living.

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

“Do not pursue spectacular deeds. We must deliberately renounce all desires to see the fruit of our labor, doing all we can as best we can, leaving the rest in the hands of God. What matters is the gift of your self, the degree of love that you put into each one of your actions.”

Mother Teresa (1910-1997) in No Greater Love (Novato: New World, 2002) 30.

My wife has a sign above the refrigerator that reads: “Do small things with great love” Mother Teresa. It’s a great reminder.

After Easter I am thinking about what God cares about linked to generosity. In other words, what matters in giving. Yesterday I found that sacrifice and giving our best matter to God. Today, Teresa (who set a great example) reminds us to give with great love! How we give matters more than how much we give.

Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2

“We’ve got to do hard things when we make a sacrifice. Lots of people think they’re charitable if they give away their old clothes and things they don’t want. It isn’t charity to give away things they don’t want. It isn’t charity to give away things you want to get rid of and it isn’t a sacrifice to do things you don’t mind doing. The harder it is and the more we don’t want to do it, the better the sacrifice.”

Myrtle Reed (1874-1911) American author in Old Rose and Silver (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1909) 200.

Jesus showed the way for us. Let’s not give as the world gives. Let’s be sure our charity reflects His love and generosity.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18

“He who cannot find time to consult his Bible will one day find he has time to be sick. He who has no time to pray must find time to die. He who can find no time to reflect is most likely to find time to sin. He who cannot find time for repentance will find an eternity in which repentance will be of no avail. He who cannot find time to work for others may find an eternity in which to suffer for himself.”

Hannah More (1745-1833) English writer known for her generous giving in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 583.

Don’t stop fasting, praying, and giving to the poor in life after Lent. Hannah More rightly notes that we must “find time” for what is important. Find time to read God’s Word, to pray, to reflect, to repent, and to work for others.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:5-6

“Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath. For occasions do not make a man frail but show what he is.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 578.

Happy Easter everyone! The resurrection of Jesus revealed for all humankind that Jesus truly is the Son of God!

I took this new header photo on Good Friday after visiting the Stations of the Cross at Sacred Heart with my wife, Jenni, in Sedalia, Colorado. The setting was serene and got even more beautiful when a group of deer joined us. They come into view just below the mountains in the center of the picture.

The bubbling fountain in the foreground reminded me of the life we have through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The ice, however was an “occasion of adversity” for the deer, as made it hard for them to get a drink. What seem to give them confidence to move toward what they needed was sticking together. That made me think about how we, as followers of Christ, need each other in life after Lent.

What will the occasions of adversity that you will face in life after Lent reveal about you?

Our aim in practicing prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor during Lent has been to train ourselves to live generously following the instructions and example of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through us the Holy Spirit shows the world that the gospel is true! Father in heaven, cause many to seek You through watching and learning from us as we move toward you together. Make it so by your Holy Spirit we pray in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus. Amen.

Need encouragement for the spiritual journey we walk together?

After you are done enjoying some chocolate or other treats today because Easter is a day to celebrate, read The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis if you have not read it. It is the most widely read Christian devotional in church history and a great book to read after Lent. Here’s a link to a free PDF copy.

Christ is risen!

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

“Certain it is, that as nothing can better do it; so there is nothing greater for which God made our tongues, next to reciting His praises, than to minister comfort to a weary soul.”

Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) English cleric as recounted in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 574.

It’s Black Saturday. Long before merchandisers affixed that label to the Friday after Thanksgiving, leaders in church history named today as such because on Easter weekend, Jesus is still in the tomb. Imagine how sad and weary the first Christ-followers must have been the day after the crucifixion of Christ. Know anyone who is sad or weary today?

With our tongues we praise Jesus, because through His death, we have life. But face it, this is a hard perspective for many to grasp who may be experiencing hard times. Most of the time we can’t deliver the sad and weary from their difficulties, but we can help bear their burdens and show them how to find consolation in our risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank you Jesus, because through your death, we have life. Thanks also that you welcome the weary to come to you to find rest for their souls. 

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

“Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as a lion that roared upon Samson; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them.”

John Bunyan (1628-1688) author of Pilgrim’s Progress as recounted in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 577.

Happy Good Friday everyone!

How wonderful that Jesus resisted the temptation to turn back from the cross. Through accepting the cup of suffering and death, he paved the way to life for all of us. This struck me today: the good that comes when we too resist temptation.

What’s this got to do with generosity? Everything!

The pathway to generosity is only navigated by resisting temptations. We resist materialism, greed, hoarding, self-indulgence, and slavery to mammon. Instead we make money our slave and put it to work. That’s when good happens.

Our ability to resist these temptations is only possible with the Holy Spirit’s help. That’s why God’s Word teaches us that one of the fruits of the Spirit is “generosity” (cf. Galatians 5:22-23).

Reflect on why today is so good. Why it’s sweeter than honey! It’s good because Jesus resisted the temptation to turn back. What temptations do you and I need to resist? Let us ask the Holy Spirit to come to our aid. This is the question I will ponder when I visit the Stations of the Cross today.

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you. John 13:34

“The modern Christian does not retire into a cell to pray, but goes about doing good. He [or she] thus avoids the risk of narrowness, which attends to the [person] who desires only to do the “nearest duty.” But there is a danger here also–that of shallowness. The [person] who is always giving, never receiving; always helping others, and never feeding his [or her] own soul, is in danger of becoming empty.”

James Freeman Clarke (1810-1888) American theologian and author in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 566.

Today is Maundy Thursday. For centuries of church history the teachings of Jesus on this day in Holy Week were read in Latin, starting with “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos” which is translated “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you.” Mandatum was shortened to Mandé in old English and French and became the label affixed to the Upper Room discourses of Holy Week Thursday (cf. John 13-17). Read them.

Jesus imparted much to the disciples on this day. He desires to impart much to us each day, but often we don’t slow down enough to receive from Him. The only way we can be generous at all times and on all occasions is first to receive generously. Do you wake up each day and allow yourself to be filled by Christ before going about to do good? If not, you too are in danger of being empty. To give like Christ we must first learn to receive richly. Receive from Him today and every day.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

“As Christians, we are called to give. Following in Christ’s footsteps, we are challenged to give differently than the rest of the world, so that perhaps through our way of giving, we may not only honor God but also point others to Him through our lives.”

Sophie Hoag in “2 Corinthians 8-9” paper dated 14 March 2016 for Aletheia New Testament class.

Today is known as Silent Wednesday. It bears this distinction because the biblical record provides little details surrounding the activities of this day in Holy Week. In observance of the silence of this day, let’s consider a point Sophie made in her recent NT paper.

Sophie emphasizes that our actions should send messages toward both God and people. Our lives must honor and glorify God, while our generosity (that is different from the world) should point others to Him. Spot on! Give that girl an “A” on her paper!

Father in heaven, cause our light to shine brightly for You so that people may see our good works, even if we use no words, and glorify You. In life after Lent, help us walk in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ in our giving, living, serving, and loving empowered by the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.'” Matthew 21:12-13

“Alas! How many souls there are full of self, and yet desirous of doing good and serving God, but in such a way as to suit themselves; who desire to impose rules upon God as to His manner of drawing them to Himself. They want to serve and possess Him, but they are not willing to be possessed by Him.”

François Fénelon (1651-1715) French archbishop and theologian in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 537.

Fenelon’s words are pointed, echoing the exclamations of Jesus in the cleansing of the temple courts during Holy Week. The religious leaders in that setting had imposed rules and did only what would “suit themselves” despite exhibiting a persona of doing good and serving God. Are we also guilty of this?

Apart from God’s work in our lives we are all “full of self” and our proclivity is to want to “possess” God like any other possession. God, by your Holy Spirit, cleanse our temples and possess our lives so that we become the house of prayer and devotion that you desire. Do this I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.